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Erin Heatherton Defends Use Of Photoshop

MODEL Erin Heatherton has defended Victoria's Secret's use of Photoshop in its advertising campaigns, arguing that "it's an essential part" of her job. The 23-year-old is one of the lingerie brand's current Angels and has featured in many of its shoots.

"We're not selling reality, we're selling a story. It's all about creating this fantasy," she said. "I don't think people should confuse fantasy and reality because no one is perfect - we all know that."

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Victoria's Secret is just one of many brands to have come under fire in the past for over-airbrushing its images.

"This is what happens when you do a photo shoot; retouching is an essential part of our job," Heatherton told Fashionista. "I think it's people's own prerogative to be able to look at something and know the difference between 'this is what someone looks like with make-up on' and 'this is what they look like in real life.'"

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However, she agreed that altering a model's body to make her waist appear slimmer or legs appear longer is "not a fair message".

"At the same time I think we're all intelligent enough to know the difference between what's real and what's not. I think that's something that children should be taught by their parents - it should be taught in schools," she said. "Photoshop makes things look beautiful just as you have special effects in movies. It's just a part of life."

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It's an issue that's long been the subject of debate within the fashion industry. The 19 international editors of Vogue launched The Health Initiative back in May to help encourage a healthier approach to body image within the industry - pledging to "work with models who, in our view, are healthy and help to promote a healthy body image". Similarly, the British Fashion Council's Model Health Inquiry was finalised in 2007, and it continues to promote model health through its Model Programme.

"I think the main issue is people just knowing their own body, having strength in their own body image and their own confidence, which shouldn't be affected by these kinds of things," said Heatherton. "People should embrace themselves."